Microscope for reef-viewing?

[UrbanSage]

Hello,

I see at thinkgeek they have a (I think) $300 USB microscope and thought that sounds really cool.

Does anyone have any personal experience with a reasonably good quality microscope and if connected via USB, just so much the more fun!

I have never looked at that type of equipment and was simply wondering if as a hobbyist first if there happens to be a brand or specific model that anyone might want to recommend? (No USB connection needed if considered crap).

Thank you!

 

[juniormc8704]

dr foster and smith have one with a built in camera, for 200 i think. Dont know anything about it, but its another option.

 

[zmckenzie]

The one I have used is owned by the university but is nice for taking pictures of micro fauna. I will be using it next semester hopefully more to do a more depth study on some corals. We will see though. Here is some shots taken of a nudibranch I needed to identify that shipped with some corals. With that in mind always qt.

 

[reefmaister]

I've heard these $200-300 microscopes are not very good quality. Most lab grade scopes are in the thousands, fwiw.

 

[UrbanSage]

So unless I am ready to fork over $1000 (which I'm not) don't bother?

 

[Reefdiver77]

Ewww. Zoa eating nudis. I hate those little buggers!!

 

[Crypsis]

Check e-bay for a used one.

 

[useskaforevil]

you can get a decent cheap used one on ebay no problem (maybe $200ish?)and then just buy a camera that fits over / in the eyepeice. (not the built ins) the cameras run around $100-$200 for a decent one, or if you have a good camera already and just want still shots there are plenty of adaptors. i got an adaptor set for a canon xt for around $40.

i'm not sure about cost but one with 3 eyepeices would be best if you're going to use a camera.

the only problem is the microscope is fairly old and the color of the light is very yellow, so i'm going to try swapping it for some white leds.

 

[UrbanSage]

Thanks!

 

[Goodwin9]

Nick...Not sure if this is what you were thinking, but you might want to check it out....

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?In...kmail-_-daily_html-_-15dec08_X512-_-X512Bbuys